Matcha Almond Energy Bites

Matcha Almond Energy Bites are here to jazz up your snack time! With just 7 simple ingredients (and a high powered food processor), you can have a healthy and nutritious snack after your next workout or during a busy day at the office.

This post is sponsored by Bard Valley Natural Delights. Through this partnership, Hello to Fit has or will receive both product and monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for your support, and for allowing me to share with you products that I believe embody similar values and outlooks on healthy living!

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My first experience with Matcha green tea was on our trip to Asia last year for a radiology conference. Ray and I spent a couple of weeks in and around Beijing, China seeing the sights and eating the eats, followed by a weekend in Tokyo to visit our friend Justin. We had Matcha lattes at Starbucks (not knowing that they were made in the U.S., too…) and had the REAL DEAL in Tokyo at sushi restaurants. “Real deal” meaning a simple blend of Matcha green tea powder, hot water, and a bit of sugar.

Once we returned to Charlottesville, Ray ordered a box of Matcha green tea powder. Ever since then he’s been making Matcha lattes each morning!

Since I can’t quite let go of the comforts of a café au lait in the morning (coffee with steamed/frothed milk), I figured using Matcha green tea powder in a batch of energy bites would be the next best thing. Natural Delights Medjool dates were the base for this recipe and roasted almonds helped add a nutty texture, as well as a source of healthy fats and Vitamin E. Of course, we can’t forget the Matcha green tea powder!

I love incorporating Medjool dates into as many dishes as I can. They’re a healthier alternative to refined sugar and act as a great binding ingredient for recipes such as this one. On the nutritional side, enjoying Medjool dates after a workout or during the day has awesome benefits, including the high amount of potassium (50% more than bananas by weight). Potassium helps our body regulate fluid balance, protect against loss of muscle mass, and maintain healthy blood pressure (source). All the more reason to pack a few of these for your day, right?

Friends, it doesn’t get any easier than these Matcha Almond Energy Bites. If you have a high-powered food processor, all you do is throw the ingredients into it, blend, and roll. The rolling is pretty therapeutic, so there’s that…

Once you’re finished rolling out your energy bites, dust ‘em with a bit of Matcha green tea powder and pop them into the fridge to chill! I’ve been putting a few of these in Ray’s lunch box as a snack, and I eat them after workouts to get a dose of potassium, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Or when I’m running late – the darn snooze button gets me – and don’t have time to make a hearty breakfast.

So, what’s it like to bite into a Matcha Almond Energy Bite? If they’re coming straight out of the fridge – my personal preference – the bites are firm on the outside, yet soft from the dates. There will be crunch from the blended almonds and chia seeds. The Matcha green tea flavor is there, but not overpowering. And the addition of pure vanilla extract is a nice balance to the green tea.

Enjoy a couple of these as your between-meal snack, or after a workout to replenish and refuel!

Matcha Almond Energy Bites are here to jazz up your snack time! With just 7 simple ingredients (and a high powered food processor), you can have a healthy and nutritious snack after your next workout, or during a busy day at the office.

Ingredients

12 Natural Delights Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped

1 cup roasted almonds

1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats (gluten free if needed)

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons Matcha powder, plus extra for dusting

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

In a high-powered food processor, mix all ingredients until finely chopped and well-blended.

Using your hands, roll mixture into balls about 1-inch in diameter. I will roll each ball between my hands, and then finish by rolling it on a flat surface. Place each ball on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

To finish, dust with desired amount of Matcha green tea powder. Place in fridge to chill until ready to eat. Energy bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

14 comments

Beverley @ Born to Sweat

April 28, 2017 at 1:48 pm

YOOOO i love everything matcha and think its hilarious that you didnt know starbucks in North America served it! haha. it was my fav until they started adding sugar into the matcha powder… a little too sweet for my taste.
Def want to make deeeees but what is the amount of dates you put in? think it got missed in the recipe
love uuuuu xxBeverley @ Born to Sweat recently posted…Beginners: Are You Working Out Too Much?

Ashley | Fit Mitten Kitchen

April 28, 2017 at 3:28 pm

Oohhh you and me both have a true love for those Medjool dates! I love the green tea in these. AND YES I love the ball rolling process too!! <3

Corrine

April 29, 2017 at 8:08 am

These look SO FUN! Love making a big batch of energy bites for the week. The addition of matcha tea sounds wonderful!

jess larson | plays well with butter

April 29, 2017 at 8:44 am

OMG OMG OMG OMG i’ve been so excited to try this recipe ever since you teased it on IG. i’m secretly afraid of matcha so i’ve been dying to try this because it looks SO GOOD…you know what i’ll be snackin’ on this week! =) xxjess larson | plays well with butter recently posted…springtime kale pesto pasta with perfectly seared scallops

these look BEAUTIFUL! Thumbs up on the DATES! Why is my matcha tea not as green . . . what brand did you use.

Nicci Randall

May 3, 2017 at 12:33 pm

YUMMM. Seriously, dates are everything. I’m typically too lazy to pull out the blender so I’ll mix almond butter, coconut oil, and cinnamon in small bowl and then stuff dates with the mix… definitely going to get a little less lazy and try these, though.

Myra

May 3, 2017 at 12:36 pm

Love me some dates and matcha! They look so pretty and vibrant 🙂

dixya @food, pleasure, and health

May 3, 2017 at 7:43 pm

i havent made energy balls in a long time…but thankfully i have all the ingredients for these. pinning this because i love all things matcha!dixya @food, pleasure, and health recently posted…Virtual Coffee Date

Elissa

May 4, 2017 at 7:14 am

I love matcha in anything, especially love the sound of it in a healthy snack. These look really good!Elissa recently posted…Nut free satay sauce

Courtney Ferris

May 5, 2017 at 12:48 pm

Matcha almond energy bites are just what I need in my life! These look so good.
xx
Courtney

Emily

May 5, 2017 at 1:59 pm

Yum! These guys look like the perfect little pick-me-up!

Comments are closed.

Hello! My name is Jess and I'm a certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor, and yoga teacher in Virginia.

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